Kris Schamp

We are just five days away from the ever-popular Kruger's Kermesse Farm Crit, so I thought I repost some updates that I just sent out to our email list:

1) Still time to register online, skip the lines on Sunday, get a start line call-up, and... win a Chris King bottom bracket!
As of this morning, we have already close to 100 racers pre-registered and tomorrow (Wednesday) is the last day to enjoy a discount when you pre-register online (http://www.portlandracing.com/kermesse/registration.html). As usual, we'll have an "express line" at registration for pre-registered racers, so all you have to do is pick up your bib number and you're all good to go. And to sweeten the deal, all pre-registered riders will receive a call-up at the start of their race and be entered in a free raffle for a svelte Chris King threaded bottom bracket and a very cool limited edition bike art poster courtesy of Portland Design Works!

BTW: even if you rather pay for your race on Sunday, please take a minute and fill out the online waiver (http://www.portlandracing.com/kermesse/waiver.html)! It will save time and paper on race day and makes things easier on our registration folks.

2) Volunteer and Race for FREE!
We are still in dire need of a few hands to help on Saturday with course set-up (from 1 to 3pm) and on Sunday with lap counting, registration, kiddie race, course marshaling and tear-down. If you like to help us make it all happen (and have a great time while you're at it), just shoot me an email at kris@portlandracing.com). If you volunteer for three or more 1-hour shifts, you will get a FREE race entry for yourself or a friend and - if you're 21 or over - a complementary 22oz bottle of Hopworks Urban Brewing organic ale!

3) Course update, gear advice, and weather forecast.
To get a feel of what to expect on Sunday, check out the updated course map and course preview video at http://www.portlandracing.com/kermesse/course.html. Racers will race a counter-clockwise loop of 1.8 miles for about 45 minutes (55' for Cat A and singlespeed). Like in cyclocross, all racers will finish on the same lap as the leader in their race heat. Categories within the same race heat will start with a gap of about 1-2 minutes (depending on field sizes). Please be courteous and safe when passing slower racers, especially during the first lap, when everyone is still getting into the rhythm of the race and getting a feel of the course. While racers will be allowed to race any type of bike, we strongly recommend to ride a bike that can accommodate knobby tires. There are a couple short bumpy sections and off-camber corners. There will be a 2-way pit area on the course where racers can stash spare wheels, bikes and any bike tools. Our title sponsor Bike N Hike will also provide fr
ee pre-race mechanical support close to the start area. Like in cyclocross, water bottle hand-ups are not allowed, but you can load up your bike and jersey pockets with as much food and water as you like. Finally, the latest weather forecast for this weekend calls for temperatures in the mid 60's, which seems about ideal for racing. There is a chance that we'll get some sprinkles, which should help keep the dust down (and might make some sections a bit more interesting), though thanks to the hot and dry weather of the last weeks we don't expect any real mud.

4) Trophies, primes, and a grand raffle!
Top-3 finishers in each category will receive some real cool medals. Even if you are not racing in the lead pack, you might want to keep your eyes peeled for the elusive tricolore Belgian flag. Whenever and wherever the flag gets raised (not necessarily at the finish line), the first racer who passes the flag gets awarded a coupon for one free Bob's Red Mill product of choice. And, as always, it pays to stay through the end, as we will wrap up the day by raffling off a variety of cool prizes generously provided by our title sponsor Bike N Hike (including a very hip Hopworks Pub Runner bike!) and our other sponsors Hopworks Urban Brewing, Portland Design Works, Chris King, Nossa Familia Coffee, Hammer Nutrition and Kruger's Farm Market. Thank you sponsors!

5) Kiddie races, gourmet farm food and live music.
Another reminder that this will be a very family-friendly and spectator-friendly event. At 11:45am, we will organize a FREE, fun kiddie race for the little ones. Kruger's Farm Market and their various concession stands will be catering a variety of hot foods (including delicious wood stove pizza, roasted corn, and grilled burgers) and serving beer and other beverages, so make sure to bring some good appetite! And from 1 to 3 pm, we'll have a local band lightening up the scene with live music music. Per request of Kruger's Farm, we ask NOT to bring beer or any other alcoholic beverages from outside (it's prohibited by OLCC regulations).

6) Ultra Farm Crit Team Relay... still a couple spots left!
After all the relay fun we had at the last edition, we decided to bring back the madness and wrap up the day of racing with a fun and exciting 30' relay race on a super-compact farm crit course (2 to 3-minute laps), featuring up to 20 teams of 4 to 10 racers. The entrance fee is $10/team. For more details and to sign up your team, just shoot me an email.

That's it. I am looking forward to seeing you on Sunday at the farm. Bring your family; bring your friends (parking is free!). Let's make it another fun one!

~Kris

PS: I plan to post another final update here about the course conditions - as well as the call-up list for each category - on Friday. For any other questions, just shoot me an email.